Jeff George workout tape creating a buzz

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on July 28, 2009, 11:03 AM EDT

So we’re taking a closer look at the latest effort by quarterback Jeff George to return to the NFL, and we’re told that the effort has been sparked by video of a recent workout that already is making the rounds in the NFL and the UFL.

The tape was created roughly three weeks ago, showing George throwing to incoming freshman at Illinois. We’re told that Illinois head coach Ron Zook was blown away by the performance, and he began beating the bushes to get George a second chance.

“I coached against him when I was in the National Football League, and
he was out there just throwing the ball around and I was like, ‘Holy
smokes.’ He looked like he did when I coached against him,” Zook told IlliniHQ.com. “He was throwing the ball on the money. He can
throw all the balls. He looks about 25 years old, and I was very
impressed with where he is right now.”

We’re in the process of getting a copy of the video, and maybe we’ll figure out a way to post some of it here.

Meanwhile, we’re hearing that some NFL scouts have responded to the video very favorably.

That said, George still faces an uphill battle. He’s 41, and his reputation for not being a team player continues to resonate.

As one league source told us told, “Regardless of his skill set, he was hated by his teammates and was never a leader.”

Still, the positive aspect of being 41 is that George necessarily has matured. So if a guy who admitted to involvement in dogfighting and gambling and killing dogs in all sorts of grotesque and arguably psychopathic ways can get another chance, maybe Jeff George should, too.

We’re not saying he should be signed to a contract or given a starting job. But if he has been able to persuade Zook, a former defensive coordinator in the NFL, that George still has it, George should get a fair chance to show what he can do.

As a reader pointed out in the comments, it’s at a minimum ironic that the Vikings currently are sniffing around 39-going-on-60-year-old Brett Favre less than two years after Minnesota coach Brad Childress scoffed at signing George, saying that describing George as being on the downside of his career would be kind, and suggesting that George go to a “fantasy camp or something.”

There’s actually a not-so-laughable argument to be made that George — who clearly wants to play — has more left in the tank than the guy who still doesn’t know what the hell he wants to do.

“Still, the positive aspect of being 41 is that George necessarily has matured.”
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Come on now. Physical maturity does not equate to mental maturity. There are 41 year olds who are mentally less mature than 20 year olds. I have no idea whether or not Jeff George is one of them.

Also, it been reported that Jeff George also accidentally broke his camera with one of his throws in front of the van he was living in.
However, if the Vikings did sign him, I wouldn’t worry about him picking up the offense as he just tells the receivers where to go in the huddle anyway.

Jeff George is a coach-killer. Plain and simple.
I still haven’t forgiven the Redskins for letting Brad Johnson go and installing Coach-Killer George as their starter. Having a great arm doesn’t even come close to making a great — or even good — NFL QB.

Florio, your the only reporter in the world making a living on reporting nothing about Brett. This article along with your ariticle from Monday night “No Word on Brett Favre”are seriously ridiculous. I dare you, give us one report where you actually had to walk outside your apartment and learn something to report on.

What could it hurt for a team to bring him in and see if he has anything left?
Jeff George did have a damn strong arm, and I think could be better than Kyle Orton, Tavaris Jackson, Jake Delhomme, and whoever the starter is in Tampa Bay .

Florio writes: “There’s actually a not-so-laughable argument to be made that George — who clearly wants to play — has more left in the tank than the guy who still doesn’t know what the hell he wants to do.”
We are all glad you have a Favre related story and I’m sure everyone sticks by your ability to asertain George’s talent level. So George- who is older than Favre and last played any meaningful football in 2001 has more in the tank than Favre? Your hate runs deep Mr. Florio, but your ability to generate webhits far outweighs everything else.
My favorite line is: “Still, the positive aspect of being 41 is that George necessarily has matured.” Yea- sure.

“There’s actually a not-so-laughable argument to be made that George — who clearly wants to play — has more left in the tank than the guy who still doesn’t know what the hell he wants to do.”
So make it.

I saw the tape and it was not very impressive. It showed him standing in a field of tall grass next to an orange van throwing footballs at a camera on a tripod with some of his clothes hanging on a line in the background.
Wait, no that was uncle Rico on Napoleon Dynamite, forget it.

So now florio uses Jeff George to knock Favre again. It’s gotten disgusting the way this guy knocks certain players and teams. Just comment on the workout by George. You didn’t need to knock Favre once again. GET OVER IT.

Florio, for all of your comedic genious, I was surprised that you didn’t also write, “Here’s the footage:” followed by a youtube vidoe of Uncle Rico from Napolean Dynamite. That would have been high-larious.

actually he helped rescue the skins season that one year.
and he rescued a vikings team that was floundering with randall cunningham at qb one year.
it would be interesting to see him out there chewing out diva wideouts.

“The tape was created roughly three weeks ago, showing George throwing…”
See, that’s the problem. Jeff George can throw the ball really well. The problem is he can’t do any of other things that a quarterback is supposed to do. He can’t lead, he can’t take direction from coaches, he can’t follow a playbook – he just throws.
Pity the team that takes on this cancer.

the best fit for him was the pre-Flacco Ravens when defense was their identity, Ray was their unquestioned leader for both sides of the ball and the QB just needed to steer the ship and and keep the defense honest against the pass. Now tere is no great fit for this enigma

Samuel L. Bronkowitz says:
July 28, 2009 12:56 PM
“The tape was created roughly three weeks ago, showing George throwing…”
See, that’s the problem. Jeff George can throw the ball really well. The problem is he can’t do any of other things that a quarterback is supposed to do. He can’t lead, he can’t take direction from coaches, he can’t follow a playbook – he just throws.
Pity the team that takes on this cancer.
————————————–
So you’re saying he can do the one thing Vick can’t?

empty13 says:
and why do other players not like him?
Yes, really, why? I’ve never seen or heard this adequately explained, either. Never heard a player with his skills being blackballed from the league for not wanting to do everything a coach suggested, and he did put up good numbers when he was allowed to play….what’s not being said here?

Just like ptchers in MLB, there are never enough quality QB’s in the NFL. With the length of the regular season and playoff games teams must have two frontline QB’s to have a chance to run the table, George must have plenty left in the tank. I’d give him a shot, besides, he can be signed on the cheap!

Florio,
If you’re going to refer to my comment, at least get put it in the entire context. LOL
I said, “I love how Childress made a wisecrack comment last year about Jeff George being too old at 40 and then the next year practically whores himself like a little sorority girl for another 40 year old. If he would have kept his mouth shut, he would have had a plan B for when Favre leave him at the altar.”

If Jeff George were black, he would have mentors coming out of retirement to woo him back into the NFL. The only knocks I’ve seen explained are his refusal to dump passes to the TE, his unwillingmess to take a hit, and his age. That sounds like a lot of the active QBs. Instead, everyone seems to be refusing the guy an honest shot.
TO’s agent would have secured a reality show and a one-year deal with a team by now. Empty13 makes a good point, what is missing from the story?

most missed the real point of the article, that is a NCAA violation by Zook attending an off season practice. A practice is one with a football, and his frosh catching it. By NCAA rules only the SC can attend/observe summer practice of football players. Do you think they will self report?

The Biqueens is where he should play;
(1) their head coah is in a need of a QB, any QB, doesn’t really matter at this point even if the QB can’t play, that’s alright,the coach can’t coach either.
(2) the fans wouldn’t notice if the guy is any good or not, they have been spent too much time trying to justify T Jack Off’s playing time, its not like they even know what a NFL Qb looks like.
(3) the Queenies don’t have a decent WR to speak of so its a built in excuse for a 40 yr old Qb when he stinks up the joint. Blame it on the lack of talent.
(4) Jeff George is a low life so he will fit in well with the bouncer metal pipe beaters, drug cheaters, and other assorted criminals on the team.

Even if George did “rescue” the Skins one season, which could be debated, it was certainly short-term gain/long-term loss by keeping him instead of Brad Johnson.
Sure, Johnson wanted to leave — because the boneheads in the Skins’ FO didn’t have enough common sense to recognize a winner and do what it took to keep him happy.

Chilly is an idiot. He also passed up on the chance to sign Jeff Garcia. Who could manage a game and was more than familiar with the West Coast Offence. Chilly will pick up anyone at this time to keep his job intact. Don’t be surprised if he calls on Fran Tarkenton to come out of retirement.